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This study aimed to investigate the relationship between genetic ancestry inferred from autosomal and Y chromosome markers and HLA genotypes in patients with Type 1 Diabetes from an admixed Brazilian population. Inference of autosomal ancestry; HLA-DRB1, -DQA1 and -DQB1 typifications; and Y chromosome analysis were performed. European autosomal ancestry was about 50%, followed by approximately 25% of African and Native American. The European Y chromosome was predominant. The HLA-DRB1*03 and DRB1*04 alleles presented risk association with T1D. When the Y chromosome was European, DRB1*03 and DRB1*04 homozygote and DRB1*03/DRB1*04 heterozygote genotypes were the most frequent. The results suggest that individuals from Maranhão have a European origin as their major component; and are patrilineal with greater frequency from the R1b haplogroup. The predominance of the HLA-DRB1*03 and DRB1*04 alleles conferring greater risk in our population and being more frequently related to the ancestry of the European Y chromosome suggests that in our population, the risk of T1D can be transmitted by European ancestors of our process miscegenation. However, the Y sample sizes of Africans and Native Americans were small, and further research should be conducted with large mixed sample sizes to clarify this possible association.

The emergence of Massively Parallel Sequencing technologies enabled the analysis of full mitochondrial (mt)DNA sequences from forensically relevant samples that have, so far, only been typed in the control region or its hypervariable segments. In this study, we evaluated the performance of a commercially available multiplex-PCR-based assay, the Precision ID mtDNA Whole Genome Panel (Thermo Fisher Scientific), for the amplification and sequencing of the entire mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) from even degraded forensic specimens. For this purpose, more than 500 samples from 24 different populations were selected to cover the vast majority of established superhaplogroups. These are known to harbor different signature sequence motifs corresponding to their phylogenetic background that could have an effect on primer binding and, thus, could limit a broad application of this molecular genetic tool. The selected samples derived from various forensically relevant tissue sources and were DNA extracted using different methods. We evaluated sequence concordance and heteroplasmy detection and compared the findings to conventional Sanger sequencing as well as an orthogonal MPS platform. We discuss advantages and limitations of this approach with respect to forensic genetic workflow and analytical requirements.

Resumo Objetivo: Avaliar a qualidade da identificação de triatomíneos na rede de laboratórios do estado de Pernambuco, Brasil. Métodos: Os nove laboratórios participantes receberam material de apoio com as chaves dicotômicas e um painel composto por sete insetos triatomíneos conhecidos no estado, para identificação da situação do espécime no recebimento (estrutura completa ou danificada), espécie e sexo. Resultados: Nove laboratórios de 12 aderiram ao estudo. A proporção de acerto para identificação do sexo foi de 56/63, e para espécie, 45/63, não apresentando relação direta com a ocorrência de danos nas estruturas morfológicas durante o transporte dos insetos. Para Panstrongylus megistus, houve acerto em todos os espécimes (9/9), enquanto para espécies do gênero Rhodnius a proporção foi menor (3/9). Conclusão: Apesar do bom desempenho na identificação entomológica, as fragilidades observadas poderão orientar ações para melhoria na rede de laboratórios e serão essenciais para os programas de controle vetorial da doença de Chagas.

INTRODUCTION: This short communication presents a novel report on the occurrence of Panstrongylus rufotuberculatus in the Brazilian state of Rondônia. METHODS: Two specimens were collected inside dwellings and identified using dichotomous keys. RESULTS: The present study showed the extensive geographic distribution of P. rufotuberculatus and the increased number of species in the state of Rondônia. CONCLUSIONS: This new record of P. rufotuberculatus is important for understanding the epidemiology of Chagas disease because this species is found naturally infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Studies on the ecology, biology, and vector-host-parasite interactions of this species are essential for surveillance programs.

Panstrongylus geniculatus (Latreille, 1811) is the most widely distributed species in Brazil. This study presents the first report of this species collected inside a building in the “Centro de Estudos Ambientais e Desenvolvimento Sustentável”, at the Vila Dois Rios, Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The new record is important to understand the risk of Chagas disease transmission, mainly because this species is commonly found infected with Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909).&nbsp

The HLA region is responsible for almost 50% of the genetic risk of type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, haplotypes and their effects on risk or protection vary among different ethnic groups, mainly in an admixed population. We aimed to evaluate the HLA class II genetic profile of Brazilian individuals with T1D and its relationship with self-reported color/race. This was a nationwide multicenter study conducted in 10 Brazilian cities. We included 1,019 T1D individuals and 5,116 controls matched for the region of birth and self-reported color/race. Control participants belonged to the bone marrow transplant donor registry of Brazil (REDOME). HLA-class II alleles (DRB1, DQA1, and DQB1) were genotyped using the SSO and NGS methods. The most frequent risk and protection haplotypes were HLA~DRB1*03:01~DQA1*05:01 g~DQB1*02:01 (OR 5.8, p HLA~DRB1*07:01~DQA1*02:01~DQB1*02:02 (OR 0.54, p HLA~DRB1*03:01~DQA1*05:01 g~DQB1*02:01 and HLA~DRB1*04:02~DQA1*03:01 g~DQB1*03:02 were more prevalent in the self-reported White group than in the Black group (p = 0.04 and p = 0.02, respectively). The frequency of haplotype HLA~DRB1*09:01~DQA1*03:01 g~DQB1*02:02 was higher in individuals self-reported as Black than White (p =

Amphibians are the focus of a recent debate and public attention owing to the global decline in their populations worldwide. Amphibians are one of the most threatened and poorly known groups of vertebrates in several geographic areas, even though they play a central role in their own ecosystems. At different levels, amphibians make their contribution to proper ecosystem functioning. They act as regulators of the food web and nutrient cycling, and they also provide several valuable ecosystem services, e.g., as a food source and as animal models for lab research. In this sense, it seems clear that the maintenance of amphibian diversity should be one of the major goals for the several countries where their population decline is observed. However, we are still struggling with the very first step of this process, i.e., the correct identification of the amphibian species diversity. Over the past few decades, research on molecular identification of amphibians using DNA barcoding has encountered some difficulties related to high variability in the mitochondrial genome of amphibians, and a research gap is noticeable in the literature. We herein evaluated both COI and 16S rRNA mitochondrial genes for the molecular identification of frogs and tadpoles in a large fragment of the South American Atlantic Rainforest in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Our results suggest that both COI and 16S rRNA are informative markers for the molecular identification of the amphibian specimens with all specimens unambiguously identified at the species level. We also made publicly available 12 new sequences of Atlantic Rainforest amphibian species for the first time, and we discussed some conservation issues related to amphibians within the Atlantic Rainforest domains in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is a multifactorial disease; clinical expression depends on both genetic and acquired factors. Few studies have examined the connection between PCT and the regulation of iron metabolism genes other than the HFE gene. We selected five polymorphisms in the CYBRD1, CP, SLC40A1, and HAMP genes to determine whether these polymorphisms can act as genetic modulators in patients with sporadic PCT. None of the 29 patients carried the C282Y mutation. Genomic DNA from 29 PCT patients was isolated. Alleles were discriminated using the ABI StepOnePlus Real-Time PCR System using TaqMan Assays. The results were compared with 107 healthy individuals matched for genetic ancestry, gender, and age. European ancestry was prevalent among PCT patients (68.3%). The frequency of the TT genotype of rs13015236 in the SLC40A1 gene was higher in PCT patients (44.8%) than in controls (20.6%) (P

Xenarthra is a superorder of placental mammals constituted by extant armadillos, sloths, anteaters and their fossil relatives. Considering the biogeographic abundance, the two species included in the Tamandua genus are the most expressive among the anteaters, being found of the north of Central America to the south of South America. Tamandua tetradactyla stand out as the most expressive species of anteater, with often records in Brazilian biological collections. However, the absence of sexual dimorphism in the external morphology of T. tetradactyla and other anteaters contributes to that sexing mistakes are frequently observed in museum specimens. Thus, evolutionary, anatomical, ecological and pathological issues related to the sex of T. tetradactyla remain mostly unknown. Here, we investigate the use of PCR amplification of the SRY gene obtained from muscular tissues of T. tetradactyla in the sexual identification of museum specimens. In addition, we used the molecular data to reveal possible intraspecific sexual variations in the skeleton of the analyzed samples. The results indicate that the anatomical data are concordant with the molecular analysis in this study, with the appendicular bones of the specimens of T. tetradactyla presented marked patterns of sexual distinctions. The molecular-morphological integration is probably a useful tool in the recognition of intraspecific variation still unknown in museum specimens of Xenarthra.

The Blue Shark (Prionace glauca, Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the most abundant sharks in the epipelagic zone (0–200 m) and its population is distributed in oceans of tropical and temperate climate. Currently, these animals have been considered predatory fishing target and are classified as low-risk or near-endangered, according to the Red List of International Union for the Conservation Nature (IUCN). Aiming study conservation aspects of the specie, the purpose of this study is verifying the occurrence of population under-structuring in Prionace glauca. This study was started by analysis of control region of mitochondrial DNA sequences of 254 Prionace glauca individuals, obtained from the Genbank database, as well as new sequences obtained from laboratory. The second step, sequencing of another 16 individuals of the same specie was made and added to the database for a new comparison. From the current results, we can verify that there are haplotypic difference in individuals of the same species, indicating that they belong to distinct lineages. The difference observed between haplotypes indicates that there is a great migratory potential of this specie. This study will be extended with a larger number of samples and the inclusion of nuclear markers, aiming at a better understanding of the processes that act at the population level.

The oil from the seed of Tontelea micrantha is utilized in traditional medicine as a topical antiseptic and as an anti-inflammatory for the treatment of respiratory diseases. The dynamic of the oil secretion in seed tissues was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy, classes of secondary compounds were identified by histochemical and phytochemical tests, the quality of the oil was determined by physical and chemical analysis, the fatty acid profile was obtained, and the volatile compounds were extracted by headspace method and identified by gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer. The oil production takes place during the final stages of seed maturation, and large vacuoles are involved in its secretion and accumulation. Flavonoids, tannins and alkaloids, linoleic and oleic acids, α-pinene and junipene are present in the oil. Several of these compounds are known to have biological activity and may support the traditional medicinal use of the species.

Summary This study evaluated the quality of oil extracted from yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) by enzymatic hydrolysis (EHO) compared with oil extracted by traditional methods, such as the physical method of cooking and pressing after fishmeal production and the chemical solvent method. The oil extracted by EHO presented the lowest acidity (1.96% oleic acid) and peroxide indexes (5.14 mEq O2 kg−1 of oil) and the highest levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (6.05g 100 g−1) and docosahexaenoic acid (27.15 g 100 g−1), two omega-3 fatty acids with high nutritional value. Importantly, oil extraction from yellowfin tuna heads using EHO produced oil rich in omega-3s with no oxidation. This study shows that this extraction method greatly increases the value of fish by-products and increases the competitiveness of the fishing industry.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the occurrence of triatomines in the rural area of Caruaru City, Pernambuco State, Brazil, from 2011 to 2012, indicating areas of risk for Chagas disease, based on the records of the main triatomine species. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data about triatomines obtained from Caruaru Vector Control Department database were: number of residences, houses with annexes, number of inhabitants, type of house, occurrence of triatomines, identified species, and location of houses. RESULTS: Of the total of 888 houses analyzed, 85.4% (758) were plastered masonry constructions all covered with roof tiles, most of them (34.1%, 303) with only one annex and inhabited by 2,236 people. In the 75 (8.4%) houses where triatomines were found (41 with annexes and 34 without annexes), distributed in 32 localities of the rural area of Caruaru, there were 211 (9.4%) inhabitants. The most common species found in the residences were Triatoma brasiliensis (26.8%), Panstrongylus lutzi (26.8%), and Triatoma pseudomaculata (12.2%). CONCLUSION: The alteration in the distribution of the species, in the study area, demonstrated the adaptability of these vectors to anthropic action, reinforcing the necessity of educational policies and constant monitoring of the affected areas, aiming to interrupt the transmission cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi.

Objective: To identify the vulnerabilities of women with human immunodeficiency virus to cervical cancer. Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out in a clinic with 152 adult women with HIV, by means of the application of a structured form comprising several types of vulnerability. Results: Related to individual vulnerability, were prevalent the age above 29 years (87.5%), education higher than eight years of study (53.3%) and family income lower than two minimum wages (94.1%). The majority reported active sexual life (81.6%) and non-use of condoms (57.2%). Regarding the social vulnerability, 56.6% were unemployed. About programmatic vulnerability, 44.0% of women underwent a prevention exam in a period of more than one year. Women with more schooling (p = 0.007), employed (p = 0.000) and that did not use illicit drugs (p = 0.000) underwent the preventive exam in proper frequency. Conclusion: In this study, were identified individual, social and programmatic vulnerabilities for cervical cancer in women with HIV. Resumen Objetivo: Identificar las vulnerabilidades de mujeres con virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana para el cáncer de cérvix. Método: Estudio transversal desarrollado en centro de salud con 152 mujeres con HIV a partir de formulario estructurado envolviendo los tipos de vulnerabilidad. Resultados: Para la vulnerabilidad individual, eran predominantes mujeres con edad superior a 29 años (87,5%), escolaridad superior a ocho años (53,3%) y renta de la unidad familiar menor que dos salarios mínimos (94,1%). La mayoría informó vida sexual activa (81,6%) y no uso del preservativo (57,2%). Sobre la vulnerabilidad social, 56,6% estaban desempleadas. Para vulnerabilidad programática, 44,0% realizaron exámenes preventivos en periodo superior a un año. Mujeres con más escolaridad (p = 0,007), empleadas (p = 0,000) y que no usaban drogas ilícitas (p = 0,000) realizaban exámenes preventivos en la frecuencia adecuada. Conclusión: Se identificaron situaciones de vulnerabilidades individual, social y programática para el cáncer de cérvix en las mujeres con VIH de ese estudio. Resumo Objetivo: Identificar as vulnerabilidades das mulheres com vírus da imunodeficiência humana ao câncer de colo do útero. Método: Estudo transversal desenvolvido em ambulatório com 152 mulheres adultas com HIV, a partir de formulário estruturado envolvendo os tipos de vulnerabilidades. Resultados: Para a vulnerabilidade individual, foram predominantes a faixa etária maior que 29 anos (87,5%), com escolaridade maior que oito anos de estudo (53,3%) e renda familiar menor que dois salários mínimos (94,1%). A maioria informou vida sexual ativa (81,6%) e não utilização de preservativo (57,2%). Para vulnerabilidade social, 56,6% estavam desempregadas. Na vulnerabilidade programática, 44,0% das mulheres realizaram exame de prevenção em período superior a um ano. Mulheres com maior escolaridade (p = 0,007), empregadas (p = 0,000) e que não usavam drogas ilícitas (p = 0,000) realizavam exames preventivos na frequência adequada. Conclusão: Neste estudo, foram identificadas situações de vulnerabilidades individual, social e programática para câncer de colo do útero nas mulheres com HIV.

Forensic Entomogenetics deals with the application of entomology allied to molecular biology techniques, being a tool for obtaining evidence that can assist in the solution of crimes. An application of forensic entomogenetics is the identification of the genetic profile of an individual by DNA analysis of the digestive tract of a mosquito that has stung it and can be used in cases of kidnapping and captivity. The main objective of this work was to expose a group of mosquitoes of the genus Aedes to the human blood (donor) and to observe if after 24h it is possible to detect traces of the human DNA that serves to identify the individual. For this, a group of 20 specimens was separated at two times, 1h and 24h after the blood supply, for DNA extraction using the QiAmp DNA Investigator kit (Qiagen). Human DNA concentration analysis was determined by Nanodrop 2000/2000c spectrophotometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific), and the PCR amplification of this human mitochondrial marker material was positive. The feasibility of the tested process for obtaining DNA and human-specific marker amplification from mosquitoes has been confirmed and it is hoped to contribute to research actions within the forensic sciences.

One of the taxa suffering from intense poaching activities along its entire occurrence area, Dasypus represents a genus of armadillos that comprises seven living species: D. hybridus , D. kappleri , D. novemcinctus , D. pilosus , D. sabanicola , D. septemcinctus , and D. yepesi . The aim of this study is to analyze the genetic diversity of D. novemcinctus in order to build a haplotype database for molecular identification purposes. Molecular analyses were performed using the database that includes 99 sequences with 762bp of the mitochondrial gene Cytochrome b of D. novemcinctus from several localities including North, Central and South America. We performed a maximum likelihood analysis and constructed a median-joining network using the Geneious and PopART softwares respectively. Sequences of the remaining Dasypus species and other armadillos were also included for the molecular analyses. The obtained results suggest four distinct lineages (groups I, II, III and IV) among D. novemcinctus haplotypes. Group I was the largest, with 53 haplotypes and spread over Brazil, Paraguay and Peru. The results reinforced the use of the genetic marker Cytochrome b as an effective tool in the identification of D. novemcinctus .

Included in one of the most commercially valuable fishes traded all around the world, the genus Thunnus is a Scombridae which comprises eight nominal species commonly known as tunas. The most widely traded in the international fish market are the species known as Atlantic bluefin tuna ( Thunnus thynnus ), bigeye tuna, ( Thunnus obesus) , Southern bluefin tuna ( Thunnus maccoyii ), yellowfin tuna ( Thunnus albacares ), albacore ( Thunnus alalunga ), and Pacific bluefin tuna ( Thunnus orientalis ). As expected for congeneric species, they are morphologically very similar and the species identification, especially in its traded forms is difficult. Several protocols have been described for species identification of marine products; however, the low genetic distance between several tuna species commonly confound the obtained results depending on the molecular marker used. Additionally, several authors pointed that the use of the DNA barcoding methodology is not effective and cannot recognize all the species due to lack of resolution of this mitochondrial marker. Here we identified a potential region for species delimitation within the genus Thunnus . The mtDNA region between sites 8092 and 8847 which comprises the mtDNA genes ATP8, ATP6, and COX3 presented polymorphic sites which allow precise species delimitation. Moreover, it keeps the advantages of the DNA barcoding region in relation to fragment size (∼750bp) and conserved flanking regions for primer annealing. Flanking primers were developed and are now being tested with samples obtained from the local fish markets.

The forensic investigation of sexual crimes includes the use of presumptive tests, which are based on the detection of semen components like the enzyme acid phosphatase (AP) and the prostate specific antigen (PSA). Because the forensic field usually deals with trace and old samples, the major goal of this study is to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of semen presumptive tests which have a specific forensic purpose, such as the colorimetric test kit SERI AP Spot Test and the immunochromatographic test kit SERATEC PSA Semiquant. To achieve this goal, samples containing saliva, semen, vaginal fluid, and mixtures were tested. The results of the AP Spot test indicate that the two minutes that limit the reaction time to avoid false-positive can be insufficient for detection of trace and old samples. The results of the PSA Semiquant suggest that this test is more sensitive and specific to semen detection than the AP test. Therefore, this study reassures the importance of presumptive tests as screening tests.

Triatoma ryckmani Zeledón & Ponce, 1972 is a species found in sylvatic habitat at Central America. Considered rare in the past and poorly studied, nowadays can be found inside houses with potential of dispersal and colonization. All five instars of T. ryckmani are described based on optical and scanning electron microscopy. The postembryonic development of the head analyzed by ontogenetic morphometry showed the largest changes occur in the first three instars. Information about morphology of the immature stages of disease vectors can be helpful in the identification process increasing speed and efficiency of control strategies.

Here we present a mitogenomic perspective on the evolution of sharks and rays, being a first glance on the complete mitochondrial history of such an old and diversified group of vertebrates. The Elasmobranchii is a diverse subclass of Chondrichthyes, or cartilaginous fish, with about 1200 species of ocean- and freshwater-dwelling fishes spread all over the world’s seas, including some of the ocean’s largest fishes. The group dates back about 400 million years near the Devonian–Silurian boundary, being nowadays represented by several derivative lineages, mainly related to Mesozoic forms. Although considered of ecological, commercial and conservation importance, the phylogeny of this old group is poorly studied and still under debate. Here we apply a molecular systematic approach on 82 complete mitochondrial genomes to investigate the phylogeny of the Elasmobranchii. By using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian analyses, we found a clear separation within the shark clade between the Galeomorphii and the Squalomorphii, as well as sister taxa relationships between the Carcharhiniformes and the Lamniformes. Moreover, we found that Pristoidei clusters within the Rhinobatoidei, having been recovered as the sister taxon of the Rhinobatos genus in a clade which also includes the basal Zapteryx. Our results also reject the Hypnosqualea hypothesis, which proposes that the Batoidea should be placed within the Selachii. © 2017, © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This study was supported by Coordenac¸ão de Aperfeic¸oamento de Pessoal de Ńıvel Superior (CAPES), Fundac¸ão Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo àPesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, FEDER-Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional funds through the COMPETE 2020-Operacional Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (POCI), Portugal 2020, and by Portuguese funds through FCT-Fundac¸ão para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovac¸ão in the framework of the project “Institute for Research and Innovation in Health Sciences” (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007274). FP was supported by Investigator FCT (IF/01356/2012) and MARINFO (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000031).

The New World marmosets of the sub-family Callitrichinae includes genera of marmosets, tamarins, and lion tamarins. They are small, arboreal, diurnal, insectivore/frugivores inhabiting forested, rural, and urban areas of tropical Central and South America. About 23 species are currently recognized. The marmosets are currently divided into four genera. With several threatened species, marmosets conservation is constantly under debate. Several management plans and actions are now in course although a precise delimitation of the operational management units is still open. Here we analyzed and discussed the molecular identification of some callithrichin marmosets based on previously published sequences under a DNA barcoding perspective.

The Tetraodontidae is the most speciose family within the order Tetraodontiformes, being characterized by beak-like jaws and the presence of powerful neurotoxins Tetrodotoxin/Saxitoxin associated with soft tissues, inflation behavior under stress, a condition shared with its accepted sister-family Diodontidae. Although several studies, including both morphological and molecular analyses have been conducted in the last decade the phylogeny and biogeography of Tetraodontidae and its species remain under debate. Several fatal intoxication cases had been observed in the last years related with the ingestion of Tetraodontidae species all around the world. Although recent technological advances have facilitated the sequencing of an entire mitogenome (∼16Kb), increasing the use of mtDNA as a phylogenetic marker, several studies primarily focusing on small mtDNA regions are continuously conducted. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the molecular identification and the cross-atlantic genetic divergence patterns observed from the mitochondrial COI gene of the poisonous genus Sphoeroides based on newly determined and previously published sequences from both North and South Atlantic Oceans.

The rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis) is found in deep waters in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. In Brazil, however, they can be observed in coastal waters from north to south Brazil, a habit that makes them susceptible to several anthropogenic impacts. This species is one of the small cetaceans with the most recorded cases of accidental catches in fishing nets (bycatch). Although Steno bredanensis is classified as ‘least concern' by the IUCN RedList, little is known about its population size and population structure. The present study evaluates the genetic structure of rough-toothed dolphins based on 15 stranded individuals from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, using the mitochondrial D-Loop region. We were not able to obtain new data on the population structure of the species in southeastern Brazil. Therefore, the structure detected by Silva et al, 2015 should continue to be accepted.

The aim of this study was to estimate the diversity of 30 insertion/deletion (INDEL) markers (Investigator(®) DIPplex kit) in a sample of 519 individuals from six Brazilian states and to evaluate their applicability in forensic genetics. All INDEL markers were found to be highly polymorphic in the Brazilian population and were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. To determine their forensic suitability in the Brazilian population, the markers were evaluated for discrimination power, match probability and exclusion power. The combined discrimination power (CDP), combined match power (CMP) and combined power of exclusion (CPE) were higher than 0.999999, 3.4 × 10(-13) and 0.9973, respectively. Further comparison of 29 worldwide populations revealed significant genetic differences between continental populations and a closer relationship between the Brazilian and European populations.

Tuna by-products were subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis with Alcalase (enzyme to substrate ratio 1 : 200 w/w; 60 °C; pH 6.5, 120 min) rendering a tuna protein hydrolysate (TPH) with 9.24 % degree of hydrolysis (DH). The antioxidant capacity of TPH determined by the methods of ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) were similar and 10 times lower than the result obtained by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). The total amino acid profile indicated that 42.15 % are composed of hydrophobic amino acids and 7.7 % of aromatics, with leucine being found in the highest quantity (17.85 %). The fatty acid profile of the oil recovered by centrifugation of the TPH – as determined by a gas chromatograph – was characterized by a high percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (39.06 %), mainly represented by the fatty acids ω3, docosahexaenoic acid (27.15 %) and eicosapentaenoic acid (6.05 %). The simultaneous recovery of unsaturated fatty acids and antioxidant peptides can add value to tuna by-products, assisting in the efficient management of fishing industry waste.

Worshipped and revered in several Indo-Pacific countries, and mostly feared among the western world, sharks are an old group of vertebrates dating back to the Devonian-Silurian boundary (~400Ma). Constantly represented as human predator by occidental movies, sharks have a spiritual appeal for several Indo-Pacific cultures. In contrast with this spiritual significance, in China sharks are a fierce animal believed to give strength and health for those whom consume their fins. They are also considered as a signal of prosperity and wealth. Fished for their meat and fins, several species are considered under high threat and are now facing extinction, with about 93% of nominal species included on the IUCN Red List. Mainly relying on the inefficiency of law enforcement authorities, the shark finning industry is a growing business with global scale actors and consequences. Understand the relation between spiritual beliefs, wealth and vitality, and the consumption of shark fins and meat is needed to precisely delineate the shark finning problem and to the development of efficient management and conservation policies. Molecular methods provide a valuable option for the identification of shark meat and body parts such as fins, although it still not consensual which one is the most appropriate.

Anacardium humile Saint Hilaire is a tropical shrub native to the Cerrado biome. It is a fruiting species with biological, medicinal, and socioeconomic significance. Thus, knowing how the genetic variability of natural populations is organized allows for the establishment of strategies for conservation and the sustainable use of the species and its biome. Six microsatellite loci previously developed from Anacardium occidentale were used to investigate the spatial genetic structure and genetic diversity of eight natural A. humile populations based on analyses of 242 adult plants. The results obtained indicate that these populations show a high level of genetic diversity (expected heterozygosity = 0.710). The endogamy coefficient was positive and significant for most populations, with a mean of 0.142 (P = 0.001). The genetic differentiation between populations was low (θ = 0.075 and GST = 0.066) but significant (P = 0.0001). The genotypes of five of the eight populations were non-randomly distributed with clusters of related plants for which the coancestry values were positive and significant. These populations exhibited high and significant endogamy indices. The results obtained for A. humile populations show that genetic conservation programs should be implemented to maintain this species.

The Elasmobranchii comprises the diverse and important group of sharks and rays. The group includes some of the ocean's largest predatory fishes, suffering unsustainable fishing activities and is commercially overexploited for their meat and fins. Overfishing has resulted in significant population declines and several species are now considered under high threat and facing extinction, with about 93% of its nominal species included in the IUCN Red List. Molecular data have provided important information about these species, allowing the management of natural stocks and preventing their decline. Population genetics and connectivity data knowledge are now available and play an important role on establishing conservation policies. However, despite the ecological, commercial and conservation importance, no molecular method is available to identify sharks and rays in a forensic context. Following the development of the Shark Panel v1.0 which includes uniquely sharks, now we tested the effectiveness of the v2.0 multiplex on batoid elasmobranchs. We carried out a systematic molecular analysis using 85 previously published mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene sequences obtained from the NCBI database and found that indels in the 16S rRNA gene can be used to distinguish several analyzed species, including some of the most threatened according to IUCN Red List. The regions selected in this study can be used for the construction of molecular identification assays. © 2017 Elsevier This study was supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, FEDER-Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional funds through the COMPETE 2020-Operacional Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (POCI), Portugal 2020, and by Portuguese funds through FCT-Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação in the framework of the project “Institute for Research and Innovation in Health Sciences” (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007274). FP was supported by Investigator FCT (IF/01356/2012) and MARINFO (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000031).

The purpose of this study was to map the common deletion (CD) area in mtDNA and investigate the levels of this deletion in irradiated heart. The assays were developed in male Wistar rats that were irradiated with three different single doses (5, 10 or 15 Gy) delivered directly to the heart and the analyses were performed at various times post-irradiation (3, 15 or 120 days). The CDs area were sequenced and the CD quantified by real-time PCR. Our study demonstrated that the CD levels progressively decreased from the 3rduntil the 15th day after irradiation, and then increased thereafter. Additionally, it was observed that the levels of CD are modulated differently according to the different categories of doses (moderate and high). This study demonstrated an immediate response to ionizing radiation, measured by the presence of mutations in the CD area and a decrease in the CD levels. O propósito deste estudo foi mapear a região de "deleção comum" no mtDNA e investigar os níveis desta deleção no coração irradiado. Os ensaios foram desenvolvidos em ratos Wistar machos que foram irradiados com três diferentes doses únicas (5, 10 ou 15 Gy), direcionadas ao coração, e as análises foram realizadas em diferentes tempos após irradiação (3, 15 ou 120 dias). A região de "deleção comum" foi sequenciada e esta deleção foi quantificada através de PCR em tempo real. Nosso estudo mostrou que os níveis da "deleção comum" foram reduzidos progressivamente do 3º até o 15º dia após irradiação, e então aumentaram após este período. Adicionalmente, foi observado que os níveis da "deleção comum" são diferentemente modulados de acordo com as diferentes categorias de doses (moderada ou alta). Este estudo mostrou que há uma resposta imediata a radiação ionizante, mensurada através da presença de mutações na área de "deleção comum" e do decréscimo nos níveis desta deleção.

Recently, typing of polymorphisms on the X chromosome has become a standard technique in forensic genetics and a growing number of short tandem repeats (STR) has been established in this chromosome related to genetic population studies. Knowledge of marker recombination is very important especially when the X chromosome typing is used in forensic kinship analysis. It is known that the meiotic recombination is not a simple function of the physical distance between segments of the DNA but the recombination events between them tend to be clustered at special regions of the chromosome. Information on the rate of recombination among markers can be gathered by studying families through several generations. In this work we have typed DNA samples of pedigree consisting of nineteen families in Rio de Janeiro, constituted of grandfather, mother and grandson, and in some cases grandmother and aunt, and reported the recombination of 10 STR markers of the X chromosome. The study of the linkage analysis using the LOD score has shown that the marker pairs DXS8378-DXS7423, DXS7132-DXS9898, DXS7132-GATA172D05 DXS9898-DXS7133 and DXS6809-DXS7133 are not transmitted in a random way, during a recombination event.

The Elasmobranchii comprises the diverse and important group of sharks and rays. The Selachii or sharks clade includes some of the ocean's largest predatory fishes, being commercially overexploited due to unsustainable fishing activities for their meat and fins. Overfishing has resulted in significant population declines and several Selachii species are now considered under high threat and facing extinction, with about 93% of its nominal species included in the IUCN Red List. Molecular data has provided important information about these species, allowing the management of natural stocks and their decline. Population genetics, connectivity data, and their population genetics knowledge are now available and play an important role on establishing conservation policies. However, despite the ecological, commercial and conservation importance, no molecular method is available to identify sharks in a forensic analytic context. As a first step in the construction of a reliable method for shark identification, we carried out a molecular systematic analysis using 85 previously published mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene sequences obtained from the NCBI database. We found that indels in the 16S rRNA gene can be used to distinguish almost all the analyzed shark species, including some of the most threatened according to IUCN Red List. The regions selected in this study can be used for the construction of molecular assays for shark identification in a forensic context.

The identification of species and the assignment of unidentified samples to a voucher reference database are among the most requested forensic analyses involving crimes against wildlife. Genomic DNA from forensic or museum samples, however, are frequently degraded, hampering the analysis of DNA fragments longer than 500bp. Among studies targeting non-human species identification, one of the most frequently used fragments is the mitochondrial Cytochrome C Oxidase subunit I (COI), in particular a ‘barcode' region containing approximately 650 base pairs (bp). The main objective of this work was to develop a set of primers to amplify five shorter overlapping COI fragments for the neotropical marmosets ( Callithrix spp.) to be used in samples from museum specimens. Taxidermized skins, bones, and hair tissues were sampled out of 9 museum specimens with a range archival from 81 to 2 years; PCR were performed with five mini-amplicons primers pairs and with the primer pair for the whole barcode COI fragment, followed by Sanger sequencing. As results, no amplification was observed using the primer pair for the longer COI sequence; however, using the new set of mini-amplicon primers, all types of samples were amplified. We established optimal PCR conditions for the employed primers and conclude that the mini-amplicon strategy for COI region typing is best suited for hardly degraded samples in forensic research, and in particular for museum samples.

The Atlantic Rainforest is one of the global conservation hotspots, representing a highly threatened area with elevated levels of endemism and species richness. Fish species from this area are one of the most exploited vertebrate groups by the international aquarium trade, an industry with an annual trade volume of about U$15–25 billions. The native South American genus Phalloceros includes species commonly known as "guppies", being found not only in South America, but also New Zeeland, Australia and Malawi, where they have been secondarily introduced with several ecological effects. We used SNPs and indels in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to investigate the molecular diversity of the species Phalloceros anisophallos from coastal Atlantic drainage areas in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Our aim is to develop a panel of mitochondrial markers to be used for the identification of guppy fish species. The molecular analyses were carried out using novel ( n =28) sequences from the mitochondrial COI gene (for DNA Barcoding) and the 16S rDNA gene (for SPInDel). We were able to determine the molecular variability of the distinct populations of P. anisophallos , which showed distinct patterns of shared polymorphism.

The use of direct PCR methods had been highly explored in forensics mainly due to reduced costs and also the reduced time spent on the analysis. In addition, as the use of washed FTA paper does not allow the quantification of DNA, the consequent increasing of PCR sensitivity makes this methodology more advantageous than the conventional extraction methods. In this study, we successfully sequenced the mitochondrial DNA control region from blood FTA samples with the elimination of the extraction step. The samples varied from one to eight years of storage and were assembled according to Anderson's reference sequence. The direct sequencing from dried blood FTA samples could be appropriate for the analysis of a large number of samples in a short time period, reducing the hands on time and also the manipulation bias.

In this study, DNA samples were amplified with the multiplex Mini YSTR09, developed for research studies on ancient and degraded forensic DNA samples. These multiplex contain nine short amplicon miniY-STR, (DYS442, DYS444, DYS445, DYS447, DYS448, DYS461, DYS570, DYS576 and DYS626). DNA samples from human bone were tested in order to investigate its amplification efficiency on forensic cases. Eight male DNA samples from the DNA Diagnostic Laboratory of UERJ were used. All of them were previously extracted from remains (human bones) and amplified with commercial kits. The results showed that four samples had full amplification using the Mini YSTR09 while the other ones had partial amplification, ranging from five to eight markers and the number of amplified loci varied from 5 to 9, average 7.5 (83.35%). With commercial kits, these numbers varied from 2 to 8, average 6.16 (77.08%) for AmpFlSTR ® MiniFiler™; 5 to 16, average 11.28 (72.62%) for AmpFlSTR ® Yfiler™; and 4 to 15, average 6.5 (43.36%) for AmpFLSTR ® Identifiler™. Among the four samples that had full amplification with the Mini YSTR09, only two samples presented full amplification using AmpFlSTR ® MiniFiler kit™. Therefore we may conclude that the multiplex are highly useful for forensic practices, being able to amplify male DNA from human bone samples, thus increasing the power of discrimination of Y-STRs.

Uma nova especie criptica de Triatoma e descrita dentro do subcomplexo T. rubrovaria. As diferencas entre T. pintodiasi sp. nov. e T. circummaculata incluem, entre outras, o padrao cromatico e diferencas morfologicas nas estruturas falicas, como nos parâmeros, suporte do falosoma, processo do endosoma e vesica. Analises bioquimicas realizadas na hemolinfa e a comparacao morfometrica da cabeca tambem registraram diferencas entre as duas especies e outras do subcomplexo T. rubrovaria.

The G894T polymorphism in endothelial nitric oxide synthase enzyme gene plays an important role in heart failure (HF) and its frequency varies among populations. We investigated this association in highly admixed samples in terms of ancestry. The cohort included 210 HF patients and 106 healthy individuals. Self-reported race and NYHA class were analyzed for HF patients. G894T polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and by restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. Ancestry was estimated using a PCR reaction containing 46 autosomal ancestry informative markers and an analysis by capillary electrophoresis. The GG homozygous genotype had a higher frequency in HF patients (63.8%) than in healthy individuals (48.1%), showing an increased chance (odds ratio 1.90, 95% confidence interval 1.18-3.05). The ancestry profiles in patients and controls were similar, with a major European contribution (57.1% and 63.2%), followed by African (30.2% and 24.0%) and Native American (12.7% and 12.8%), without a significant difference between both samples (p = 0.28). The GG genotype is associated to HF prognosis, and this association remains present in highly admixed sample groups.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have the highest worldwide mortality rate of any type of disease. In recent years, genetic research regarding CVD has been conducted using association studies, in which the presence of a genetic polymorphism associated with a specific cell signaling pathway in a lower or in a higher frequency among patients may be interpreted as a possible causal factor. Genetic polymorphisms that occur in the β-adrenergic receptor 1 (β-ADR1) can result in significant changes in its function that may result in physiopathologies. Ambiguous categorizations, such as skin color and self-reported ethnicity have been used in pharmacogenetic studies as phenotypic proxies for ancestry; however, admixed populations present a particular challenge to the effectiveness of this approach. The main objective of the present study was to estimate the diversity and the frequency of the Ser49Gly polymorphism of the β-ADR1 gene in a sample of 188 male individuals from the population of Rio de Janeiro. The Ser49Gly frequencies were analyzed by two forms of sample stratification: The phenotypic criterion of black or non-black skin color, and African or non-African ancestry, defined using Y-chromosome single nucleotide polymorphisms and autosomal indel markers. These results were used to evaluate whether marker-based ancestry criteria and/or skin color were associated with the frequency of the Ser49Gly polymorphisms in the heterogeneous Rio de Janeiro/Brazilian population. The DNA fragments of interest were amplified by polymerase chain reaction with specific primers for the Ser49Gly marker, and genotyping reactions were performed by restriction with the enzyme Eco0109I. Heterozygosity values ranging from 0.25 to 0.50 and 0.20 to 0.41 were found for the groups stratified by ancestry and skin color, respectively. Using the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium at the ser49Gly marker, it was found that there was no significant deviation in the genotype distribution of the whole Rio de Janeiro sample or the stratified sample. Analysis of the allelic distribution in the Rio de Janeiro population sample revealed frequencies of 80.30 and 19.70% for the wild-type (Ser49) and mutated (Gly49) alleles, respectively. Significant differences were observed in the allele frequencies of the Ser49Gly marker between the self-defined black and non-black phenotype, and the African and non-African descendant genotype population samples. A significant difference was also observed between blacks and African-descendant individuals, with a lesser degree of genetic differentiation. The results presented in the present study suggest that the Ser49Gly marker has a distribution that is influenced by an ancestral component, due to the increased prevalence of the Gly49 polymorphism in the black and African descendant populations of the Rio de Janeiro state. This evidence, in combination with clinical studies, may contribute to a detailed analysis of the pattern of susceptibility to CVD involved in β-ADR1 receptor mechanism failure.

INTRODUCTION: The present study shows a descriptive analysis of triatomine occurrence and its natural Trypanosoma infection rates in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, between 2006 and 2007. METHODS: Entomological data for the species, such as specimens captured in both intra and peridomiciles and natural infection index, were obtained via domiciliary capture in 147 municipalities from 11 Regional Managements of Health. The database was obtained from a sample of insects (100% infected and 20% non-infected) sent to the Central Laboratory of Pernambuco. RESULTS: A total of 18,029 triatomines were analyzed from 138 municipalities of the state. Triatoma pseudomaculata (35%), Triatoma brasiliensis (34%), and Panstrongylus lutzi (25%) were the most captured species. These species also showed a widespread geographical distribution in the state. Panstrongylus megistus, Triatoma petrocchiae, Triatoma melanocephala, Triatoma sordida, Rhodnius nasutus, Rhodnius neglectus, and Triatoma infestans showed more limited geographical distribution and lower relative abundance. The parasitological research showed that 8.8% of the triatomines were naturally infected with flagellates morphologically similar to Trypanosoma cruzi and 91.3% of them were captured inside houses in 113 municipalities. P. lutzi showed the highest rates of natural infection. CONCLUSIONS: After the control of T. infestans, synanthropic species, such as T. brasiliensis, T. pseudomaculata, and P. lutzi, maintain the risk of T. cruzi transmission to humans in the state of Pernambuco. These species are widely distributed, and infected specimens have been found inside houses. Thus, an enhanced surveillance and vector control of Chagas disease is recommended in Pernambuco. INTRODUÇÃO: O presente estudo apresenta uma análise descritiva da ocorrência de triatomíneos e seus índices de infecção natural por Trypanosoma no Estado de Pernambuco, entre 2006 e 2007. MÉTODOS: Dados entomológicos para as espécies de triatomíneos, tais como espécimes capturados no intra e peridomicílio, e índice de infecção natural foram obtidos por meio da captura domiciliar em 147 municípios das 11 Gerências Regionais de Saúde. A pequisa foi baseada em uma amostra de insetos (100% dos infectados e 20% dos não infectados) enviados para o Laboratório Central de Pernambuco. RESULTADOS: No total, 18.029 triatomíneos foram analisados provenientes de 138 municípios. Triatoma pseudomaculata (35%), Triatoma brasiliensis (34%) e Panstrongylus lutzi (25%) foram as espécies mais capturadas. Estas espécies também apresentaram ampla distribuição geográfica no estado. Panstrongylus megistus, Triatoma petrocchiae, Triatoma melanocephala, Triatoma sordida, Rhodnius nasutus, Rhodnius neglectus e Triatoma infestans apresentaram distribuição geográfica mais restrita e menores valores de abundância relativa. A pesquisa parasitológica mostrou que 8,8% dos triatomíneos estavam infectados por flagelados morfologicamente similares a Trypanosoma cruzi e 91,3% deles foram capturados no interior das habitações em 113 municípios. P. lutzi apresentou as maiores taxas de infecção natural. CONCLUSÕES: Após o controle do T. infestans, as espécies sinantrópicas T. brasiliensis, T. pseudomaculata e P. lutzi mantêm o risco de transmissão do T. cruzi ao homem no Estado de Pernambuco. Estas espécies são amplamente distribuídas e espécimes infectados foram encontrados dentro das casas. Assim, nossos resultados recomendam reforçar a vigilância e controle vetorial da doença de Chagas em Pernambuco.

Callithrix aurita is a native small primate species from the Brazilian Southeastern Atlantic mountains. Considered as vulnerable and figuring the IUCN Red List, the species currently struggles with a reduced population size and faces several obstacles such as congeneric competition and the obvious anthropic pressure. Here we describe our amplification strategy to obtain high quality DNA of the endangered marmoset species Callithrix aurita from the South American Atlantic Rainforest, for use on massive parallel sequencing with the HiSeq 2500 platform. Two fragments of about 9Kb were successfully amplified comprising the fragments F1 165-9229 and F2 8531-639 of the mitochondrial genome of the Callithrix aurita. The quantification of the DNA was made using the Qubit fluorimeter and the fragments are now under sample preparation and sequencing using the Nextera DNA Kit within the HiSeq 2500 platform.

The Atlantic Rainforest is one of the global conservation hotspots, representing a seriously threatened area with high levels of endemism and species richness. The fishes from the Atlantic Rainforest are one of the most exploited vertebrate groups by the international aquarium commerce, with an annual trade volume of about U$15-25 billions, now aggravated by the Internet e-Commerce and playing a crucial role on the sales and distribution of these species. The Cichlidae is one of the most exploited groups with several species being commonly sold in several online sites and aquarium stores all around the world. In this sense, our aim is to study the genetic diversity of the native cichlid Geophagus brasiliensis from the South American Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil. We constructed a database including 75 sequences from Geophagus brasiliensis from the Ubatiba river with 540bp of the mtDNA D-loop region using primers H16498 and L15774M and conducted molecular analyses with Geneious v4.82, DnaSP v5, Arlequin v3.5 and PopART. Our results point show that although G. brasiliensis is considered as a territorialist species, which exhibits parental care and small movement rates, population genetic structure could not be observed along the sample area, suggesting the existence of considerable gene flow at least among the sampled populations.

South America's demographic complexity has been historically influenced by population interactions such as the European migration and African slavery trade, besides Native Americans groups previously settled in the territory. In Brazil colonization occurred alongside different historical events at the beginning of the 16th century which intensely contributed to the genetic admixture. This study targets to enlarge on the databases with matrilineal lineages of Brazilian populations. We analyzed the mtDNA control region of blood spots from 116 individuals belonging to the North region of the country. All samples were processed by direct amplification and sequenced with fluorescent dye terminators kit by capillary electrophoresis. The haplogroups were assigned using the EMPOP online platform. Our data revealed higher rates for the Native American ancestry (57.8%), followed by African (36.2%) and European (6.0%) proportions. Considering the lack of mitochondrial lineages data further studies should be conducted in order to fully elucidate anthropological and population genetic pattern across the country.

When DNA is recovered in a small quantity and low quality, typing methods based on mtDNA should be considered. Mini-primer sets multiplex with reduced amplicons has been successful in amplifying the entire CR. This study developed a mini-primer set PCR multiplex assay to amplify the entire CR of mtDNA from fragments of human skeletal remains submerged in water up to 30, 60 and 90days. So far, the new mini-primer set for PCR multiplex assay was tested on four samples, three of them submerged in river water for a period of 30 months. This approach gave successful PCR amplifications for the three samples submerged and the control. The following sequencing analysis brought partial mtDNA control region profiles to the samples and a complete to the control.

The reef fish community is one of the most explored fish stock by local and medium scale fishing activities as well as by the international ornamental fish trade. Despite these intense commercial activities, several reef species are poorly known. The reef fish community limited knowledge makes difficult the commercial regulation and also the adoption of conservation policies and general law enforcement. The present study deals with the molecular identification of a reef fish community from the Baia de Todos os Santos, Bahia, Brazil in order to construct a reference database for molecular identification of these species. We evaluated the molecular identification of 51 species included in 28 distinct families. The specimens were caught using freediving techniques and tissue samples were obtained from the epaxial musculature. The DNA barcoding methodology was used for the amplification of a 650bp fragment from the mitochondrial COI gene. Among the 51 obtained COI sequences, 16 of them represent new record for the species in the Brazilian coastal region including two species ( Gramma brasiliensis and Scarus trispinosus ) without any sequencing data available until now.

Aim The development of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and its chronic complications may have a genetic background. We aimed to describe HLA haplotypes in patients with T1D from different urban geographical regions of Brazil. Methods This was a cross-sectional, nationwide survey conducted in 14 public clinics from 10 Brazilian cities. HLA Class II Typing were performed with medium to high-resolution PCR-RSSO (LabType SSO, One lambda Inc.) in 561 T1D patients. Common and Well Documented (version 2.0) was used to defined alleles, and ambiguities were solved by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) (Holotype HLA Assay, Omixon Inc.). HLA haplotypes were determined in Arlequin v.3.5 software. Results We have determined 125 haplotypes from T1D patients. Top 10 haplotypes are shown in Table 1. Haplotypes from South Brazil T1D patients were significantly different when compared to Southeast and North (p Conclusions Our study showed that T1D patients presented new haplotypes which could be associated with T1D. Further characterization of genomic ancestry, as well as extended haplotypes analysis, should be able to offer a more definitive risk for unfavorable outcome of Brazilian T1D individuals. Download : Download high-res image (443KB) Download : Download full-size image L.M. Porto: 1. Grant/Research Support; Company/Organization; Faperj, CNPq and Omixon.

Os autores descreveram as características morfológicas de Triatoma klugi Carcavallo, Jurberg, Lent & Galvão, 2001 pertencente ao grupo de espécies que compõem o "complexo T. oliveirai". Até o presente tem sido difícil separar essas espécies com base nas características ninfais, o que justifica o desenvolvimento deste trabalho. Os espécimes foram coletados em frestas de rochas no morro Malavok na localidade de Linha Brasil, município de Nova Petrópolis, no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. O local de captura dos triatomíneos situa-se entre 700 e 800 m de altitude (29º18'38''S, 51º04'57''W). Juntamente com T. oliveirai (Neiva, Pinto & Lent, 1939), espécie morfologicamente mais próxima, são as únicas do complexo que não foram encontradas, até o momento, no Estado do Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul e Goiás, Brasil. Em condições experimentais, já foi testada e comprovada a sua susceptibilidade à infecção pelo Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909) e Trypanosoma rangeli (Tejera, 1920). A análise comparativa das ornamentações do exocório dos ovos e de três estádios ninfais de T. klugi por microscopia óptica e microscopia eletrônica de varredura mostrou algumas particularidades morfológicas, com destaque para: a face ventral da cabeça, o sulco estridulatório e os últimos segmentos abdominais (IX, X - futura genitália e XI - tubo anal). Esses dados contribuem para a ampliação dos parâmetros diferenciais visando à diagnose de T. klugi durante o seu desenvolvimento ninfal. The authors had described the morphologic characteristics of Triatoma klugi Carcavallo, Jurberg, Lent & Galvão, 2001 to the group of species belonging to "T. oliveirai complex". Until the moment it has been difficult to separate on the nymphs characteristics basis these species, what it justifies the development of this work. The specimens had been collected in openings of rocks in the Malavok mount in the locality of Linha Brazil, city of Nova Petrópolis, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. The local of capture of the Triatominae is placed enters 700 and 800 m of altitud (29º18'38''S, 51º04'57''W). Together with T. oliveirai (Neiva, Pinto & Lent, 1939), its morphologically related species, is the only ones of the complex that had not been found, until the moment, in the State of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and Goiás, Brazil. In experimental conditions, already it was tested and proven its susceptibilities to the infection for Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909) and Trypanosoma rangeli (Tejera, 1920). The comparative analysis of the ornaments of the exocorium of eggs and of three nymphs of T. klugi by optic microscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed some morphologic particularities, with prominence for: the ventral face of the head, the stridulatory sulcus and the last abdominal segments (IX, X - future genitalia and XI - anal duct). These data contribute for the magnifying of the distinguishing parameters aiming at diagnosis of T. klugi during its nymphal development.

Triatoma baratai Carcavallo & Jurberg, is a wild ( i.e., nonperidomestic) species found in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul (Bodoquena region, county of Bonito), Brazil. Its eggs and nymphs are described here based on optical and scanning electron microscopy. The operculum and exochorion have pentagonal, hexagonal, and heptagonal cells, with small cracks and small random pits. Differences in the eggs and five nymphal instars of T. baratai allow them to be distinguished from the sympatric species Triatoma williami Galvão, Souza & Lima, and from six of the nine members of the Triatoma oliveirai complex. The most useful differentiating characters are in the color, shape of the abdomen, head, and total body length. Keys are provided to separate the eggs and nymphal instars of six of the nine members of the Triatoma oliveirai species complex.